Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are gearing up for a thrilling encounter in the IPL 2024 Eliminator on Wednesday, May 22, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The RCB VS RR brings back memories of their first-ever IPL Eliminator clash in 2015 when RCB triumphed over RR in the Eliminator at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, winning by a substantial 71 runs.
What happened during RCB vs RR in IPL Eliminator 2015?
Reflecting on the RR vs RCB Eliminator clash in IPL 2015, RCB elected to bat first. Their openers, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, struggled to build a strong foundation, with Gayle scoring 27 runs off 26 balls and Kohli managing just 12 runs off 18 balls. The turning point for Royal Challengers Bengaluru came with a crucial partnership between AB de Villiers and Mandeep Singh. De Villiers’ explosive 66 runs off 38 balls, complemented by Mandeep’s unbeaten 54 off 34 balls, propelled RCB to a respectable total of 180/4.
In response, Rajasthan Royals faced an early blow as Shane Watson was dismissed for a mere 10 runs off five balls. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson soon followed, failing to make an impact. Although Ajinkya Rahane fought valiantly, his efforts were in vain due to lack of support from the other end. RCB’s bowlers seized the moment, consistently taking wickets and stifling RR’s chase.
Yuzvendra Chahal, David Wiese, Harshal Patel, and Sreenath Aravind each claimed two wickets, while Mitchell Starc added one to his tally. The coordinated bowling attack dismantled RR’s batting lineup, leading to a comprehensive 71-run victory for RCB. This dominant win propelled the then Virat Kohli-led side to Qualifier 2 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), although they eventually fell short in that match.
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A Contrasting Journey to IPL 2024 Eliminator
Faf du Plessis’ Royal Challengers Bangalore enter the playoffs in remarkable form, riding a six-match winning streak. Their journey has been nothing short of dramatic, as they transformed from a team on the brink of elimination to formidable contenders. However, Virat Kohli’s form in the eliminators remains a concern for the Bengaluru outfit.
In contrast, the Rajastan Royals started their campaign impressively, winning eight of their first nine matches and seemingly destined for a top spot in the points table. However, a sudden slump saw them losing four out of five subsequent games, which pushed them out of the top two positions.
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